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French Language Program

 
Photo of French Instructors

Pictured above (left to right): Alix Mazuet, Maria Comsa, Heather Howard, Vera Shapirshteyn, Marie Lasnier


French is the second largest foreign language program at Stanford with about 200 students enrolled in French courses each quarter. We offer many options to incoming freshmen, transfers, and continuing students whether you're just interested in satisfying the University Language Requirement or really motivated to learn as much as possible about France and the French-speaking world.

For additional information, please contact Heather Howard, the French program coordinator. You may also want to check out the French program website.

You will find that most of our courses rely on Internet resources and multimedia technology. Many are content-based and enable students to access a variety of disciplines such as art, music, linguistics, engineering, economics, and international relations.

We have two distinct types of French language courses at the first- and second-year levels.

  • The regular series emphasizes a full range of communicative skills including listening comprehension, oral, and written expression, reading, and grammar.
    • First Year Courses (French 1, French 2, French 3)
    • Second Year Courses (French 21C, French 22C, French 23C)
  • Oral Communication courses explore such topics as everyday life in France, French survival skills, French film, and the Francophone world.
    • French 10 - First-Year Conversation
    • French 15 - French in Everyday Life Second-Year Conversation
    • French 20A - France and Francophonie Second-Year Conversation
    • French 20B - French Cinema Second-Year Conversation
    • French 20C - French Survival Skills Second-Year Conversation

Intensive courses are offered during the summer to explore the study of French.

  • French 5A/5B/5C: Intensive First-Year French
  • French 15S: Intensive French Conversation
  • French 50S: Reading French

Advanced courses focus on more specialized topics.

  • French 50: Reading French
  • French 120: Advanced Conversation: France Today
  • French 124: Advanced French Grammar

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